Atomic orbitals: 4f electron density

This page addresses the 4fxyz, 4fx(z2-y2), 4fy(z2-x2), and 4fz(x2-y2) electron density functions. See below for links to images of the electron densities of the other 4f orbitals.

"Dot-density" plot of the 4fxyz electron density function ψ4fxyz. Blue represents negative values for the wave function and red represents positive values. Each of the eight lobes is identical as regards shape but each is orientated in a different direction.

This page displays the electron density of the 4fxyz orbital as a "dot-density" diagram. High density of dots in a region denotes high electron density.

The 4fxyz, 4fx(z2-y2), 4fy(z2-x2), and 4fz(x2-y2) are identical in appearance and differ only is direction. The 4fx(z2-y2), 4fy(z2-x2), and 4fz(x2-y2) orbitals can be generated from the 4fxyz orbital by 45° rotations about the x-, y-, and z-axes respectively. This is best seen when viewing all four together.

Using JSmol

You can use your mouse to manipulate the "orbital" in the "JSmol" image above.

Click on the JSmol text in the above diagram to show a popup menu.

To rotate about the x and y directions, drag mouse around the image

To rotate about the z direction (which comes out of the screen towards you), hold shift and drag mouse horizontally

To zoom, hold shift key down and drag mouse vertically

To reset the image, hold down shift key and double click ony part of the image not containing dots